Content downloading method and apparatus used by mobile device

Abstract

A content downloading method and apparatus of a mobile device employing an Internet protocol television (IPTV) are provided. The content downloading method and apparatus allow an IPTV to provide a mobile device with content information received from a service provider, allow a user to input content desired to be downloaded to the mobile device, and allow a user to download the content to the mobile device from the service provider via the IPTV, thereby quickly and easily downloading desired content to the mobile device without a complicated process of browsing and copying the content.

1. A content providing method comprising:
 receiving, by an Internet Protocol television display device, content information from a service provider which provides a broadcast service using an Internet Protocol; 
 transmitting the received content information, from the Internet Protocol television display device, to a mobile device; and 
 if a content download request is received, by the Internet Protocol television display device, from the mobile device, the content download request being a request to download content identified by the received content information, the content including at least one of a broadcast video program and video on demand (VOD) contents, then in response to the content download request:
 requesting, by the Internet Protocol television display device, the service provider for the content; 
 receiving, by the Internet Protocol television display device, the content from the service provider; 
 storing the received content; and 
 transmitting, by the Internet Protocol television display device, the stored content to the mobile device based on a schedule, the stored content including the at least one of the broadcast video program and VOD contents, 
 
 wherein the schedule is pre-determined by a user input. 
 
     
     
       2. The content providing method of  claim 1 , wherein the transmitting of the received content information comprises:
 comparing the received content information with previously stored content information to determine whether the received content information has been updated; and 
 if it is determined that the received content information has been updated, transmitting the received content information to the mobile device. 
 
     
     
       3. The content providing method of  claim 1 , wherein the requesting the service provider for the content comprises:
 if the content download request is received from the mobile device, standing by until the service provider provides the content. 
 
     
     
       4. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing a computer program for executing the method of  claim 1 . 
     
     
       5. A content downloading method used in a mobile device, the method comprising:
 receiving, by the mobile device, content information from an Internet protocol television (IPTV); 
 displaying, by the mobile device, the received content information; 
 receiving, by the mobile device, at least one content list, from among content lists included in the content information; 
 requesting, by the mobile device, the IPTV to download and store content included in the received content list from a service provider, the requested content including at least one of a broadcast video program and video on demand (VOD) contents; and 
 in response to the request to the IPTV to download content, receiving, by the mobile device, the downloaded and stored content from the IPTV based on a schedule, the stored content including the at least one of the broadcast video program and VOD contents, 
 wherein the schedule is pre-determined by a user input. 
 
     
     
       6. The content downloading method of  claim 5 , further comprising:
 storing the content list; and 
 requesting the IPTV to download content included in the content list to the mobile device. 
 
     
     
       7. A content providing apparatus of an Internet protocol television (IPTV), the apparatus comprising:
 a content information management unit of the IPTV which transmits content information, that is received, by the content information management unit, from a service provider providing a broadcast service using an Internet protocol, to a mobile device; 
 a content request unit of the IPTV which, if a content download request is received, by the content request unit, from the mobile device, the content download request being a request to download content identified by the received content information, the content including at least one of a broadcast video program and video on demand (VOD) contents, then in response to the content download request, requests the service provider for the content; and 
 a content transmission unit of the IPTV which receives the content from the service provider, stores the received content, and transmits the stored content to the mobile device based on a schedule, the stored content including the at least one of the broadcast video program and VOD contents, 
 wherein the schedule is pre-determined by a user input. 
 
     
     
       8. The content providing apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the content information management unit comprises:
 an update determination unit which compares the received content information with previously stored content information to determine whether the received content information has been updated; and 
 wherein the content information management unit transmits the received content information to the mobile device according to a result of the determination of the update determination unit. 
 
     
     
       9. A content downloading apparatus in a mobile device, the apparatus comprising:
 a display unit of the mobile device which, if the mobile device receives content information from an Internet protocol television (IPTV), displays the received content information; 
 a key input unit of the mobile device which receives at least one input designating a content list from among content lists included in the received content information; 
 a download request unit of the mobile device which requests the IPTV to download and store content included in the content list from a service provider, the requested content including at least one of a broadcast video program and video on demand (VOD) contents; and 
 a receiving unit of the mobile device which, in response to the request to the IPTV to download content, receives the downloaded and stored content from the IPTV based on a schedule, the stored content including the at least one of the broadcast video program and VOD contents, and 
 wherein the schedule is pre-determined by a user input. 
 
     
     
       10. The content downloading apparatus of  claim 9 , further comprising:
 a list storage unit which stores the content list, 
 wherein the download request unit requests the IPTV to download content included in the stored content list. 
 
     
     
       11. A content downloading method of a mobile device, the method comprising:
 if content information received from a service provider is updated, transmitting the content information from an Internet protocol television (IPTV) to the mobile device; 
 if the mobile device receives the content information from the IPTV, displaying, by the mobile device, the received content information; 
 receiving, at the mobile device, at least one content list, from among content lists included in the received content information, at a request from a user; 
 requesting, at the mobile device, the IPTV to download content included in the received content list from the service provider, the requested content including at least one of a broadcast video program and video on demand (VOD) contents; 
 if the IPTV receives a request to download the content, then in response to the request to download the content:
 requesting, by the IPTV, the service provider to transmit the content; 
 receiving, at the IPTV, the content from the service provider; 
 storing the received content; and 
 transmitting the stored content from the IPTV to the mobile device based on a schedule, the stored content including the at least one of the broadcast video program and VOD contents, 
 wherein the schedule is pre-determined by a user input. 
 
 
     
     
       12. A content downloading system comprising:
 an Internet protocol television (IPTV); and 
 a mobile device, 
 wherein if content information received, by the IPTV, from a service provider, is updated, then the received content information is transmitted, by the IPTV, to the mobile device, 
 wherein if the IPTV receives a content download request from the mobile device, the requested content including at least one of a broadcast video program and video on demand (VOD) contents, then in response to the content download request:
 a service provider is requested by the IPTV to transmit the content, 
 the content is received by the IPTV, from the service provider, 
 the received content is stored by the IPTV, and 
 the stored content is transmitted by the IPTV to the mobile device based on a schedule, the stored content including the at least one of the broadcast video program and VOD contents; 
 
 wherein the schedule is pre-determined by a user input, and 
 wherein, if the mobile device receives updated content information from the IPTV, then the mobile device:
 displays the content information, 
 receives at least one content list, from among content lists included in the content information, at a request from a user, and 
 requests the IPTV to download content included in the content list.